Free The Cop Killer by Harry Nankin Page B

better effect.
     Taking small sips of their morning coffee and just as small mouthfuls of the various cakes and fancies advertised as home made but clearly bought in.
    Most of the conversations about other members who did not happen to be present on that particular morning.
    The Richards couple became known as “those people from down the road or the other side of the street”, who continued to drink tea at mid morning rather than coffee, and continued to refuse food except for one day when Jack struck back.
    They arrived, it was 11am precisely, the room was more or less full, it being hair perm Friday so the salon was fully booked.
     Jack from his many years, as a detective dealing with all manner of crime was still very observant. 
    On this particular day on entering the café he saw Girda, she was alone, he seized the opportunity and asked
    “Oh could we please have two slices of the carrot cake?”
    Girda looked up in amazement and was so taken aback to please her boss.
    All in the hope of not only continuing to work at the establishment but to stay in the UK and later to bring as many relatives as possible to this new found land of the free.
     Not freedom of liberty, but freedom to claim unlimited medical care and state benefits including family allowances for children back home that did not exist.
    Girda hastily reached for the serving knife and two plates. Jack seized on the opportunity, Anne began to smile she knew his game.
    “We will have those two pieces at the front please?" he said.
     Girda took them placing them on the tray and then made the drinks, picked up the tray and was about to leave, saying
    “You two, you do go, I bring to table”.
    Just at the critical moment, Mrs Delwright appeared, and immediately she saw the two missing pieces of carrot cake from the front of the plate.
    She was about to speak when seeing the missing items but she hesitated and having thought better of it did not speak but looked with a grimace and took a deep breath.
    Anne and Jack were seated and he enjoyed the carrot cake.
     Anne commented, “Jack you are a one, how naughty of you”.
     He smiled with a grin of victory.
    Things were not so good behind the counter when Girda arrived back with a smile announcing, “The new people had actually bought something to eat”.
    “You gave them the two pieces from the front of the plate Girda, you must take more care” said Mrs Delwright
    “I don’t understand,” asked Girda with a look of mystery upon her face”.
    Mrs Delwright took another deep breath and whispered, though Jack still had the ears of an investigative detective and heard her next words.
    “Girda I always put two large pieces at the front of the plate with smaller ones at the back, in this way customers are tempted to buy but they receive a smaller piece, so I get at least one portion extra per plated cake”.
    “Oh I see” apologised Girda, “that man he must see, him very crafty, I think”.
    “Yes a bloody copper they tell me, what else can you expect?” She blurted.
    The tragedy continued for Mrs Delwright as Jack ate his slice of cake but only took one bite out of the other and left it, but continued to hold his fork on the plate to prevent its removal, normally done in quick time.
    Anne never ate bought cake; the uneaten cake thought Mrs Delwright was a bad advert.
    The session over both the new comers left for a walk around the village.
    When they were just outside the door, they met Miss Pym from the golf club she looked but did not speak. Once inside she sat between the two tables of Yuppie ladies, took off her large rimmed hat put down her bag and spoke.
    “Heavens did you see those new comers?” He is a common policeman you know”.
    There was a laugh and Angela Garbet wife of the golf club president said, “we know them, well of them rather”.
    “I say,” Said Miss Pym “you may never believe this but the fellow had the cheek to arrive at the club some days ago seeking to be a